[Event "Kenilworth Chess Club Summer Tournament"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2009.06.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "David Pawlowski"]
[Black "Donald Anthony Carrelli"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D17"]
[WhiteElo "1777"]
[BlackElo "1794"]
[Annotator "Wojcio, Michael David"]
[PlyCount "62"]
[EventDate "2009.??.??"]
[SourceDate "2019.09.05"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Nf3 dxc4 5. a4 Bf5 6. Ne5 Nbd7 7. Nxc4 Qc7 8.
f3 e5 9. e4 exd4 10. exf5 dxc3 11. Bd3 cxb2 12. Qe2+ Qe5 13. Nxe5 bxa1=Q 14.
Nxc6+ Ne5 15. O-O bxc6 16. Bb2 Bc5+ 17. Kh1 Qxb2 18. Qxb2 Nxd3 19. Qe2+ Be7 20.
Qxd3 O-O 21. Rc1 Rfd8 22. Qe3 Nd5 23. Qe4 Ba3 24. Re1 Bb4 25. Rf1 a5 26. g4 Re8
27. Qd4 Rad8 28. Rd1 c5 29. Qd3 c4 30. Qxc4 Ne3 31. Rxd8 Rxd8 0-1

[Event "Berlin-ch"]
[Site "Berlin GER"]
[Date "1925.02.??"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Kurt Paul Otto Joseph Richter"]
[Black "W Kretzschmar"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D01"]
[Annotator "Soltis, Andy"]
[PlyCount "89"]
[EventDate "1925.??.??"]

1. d4 d5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. Bg5 h6 4. Bh4 Bf5 5. f3 Nbd7 6. Nxd5 Nxd5 7. e4 Bxe4 8.
fxe4 Ne3 9. Qd3 Nxf1 10. Qxf1 g5 11. Bg3 c6 12. O-O-O Qa5 13. Kb1 Bg7 14. Ne2
Rf8 15. h4 f5 16. e5 e6 17. hxg5 hxg5 18. Rh7 Rg8 19. d5 cxd5 20. Nd4 Nf8 21.
Nxe6 Nxe6 22. Qxf5 Qb6 23. Qg6+ Ke7 24. c4 d4 25. Rxd4 Qxd4 26. Qf6+ Kd7 27.
Qf7+ Kc6 28. Qxe6+ Kc5 {[#]} 29. Bf2 (29. Qe7+ Kb6 30. Qe6+ Kc5 31. Qe7+) 29...
Qxf2 30. Qd5+ Kb6 31. Qd6+ Ka5 32. b4+ (32. Qa3+ Kb6 33. Qd6+) 32... Ka4 33.
Qd7+ Kxb4 34. Qb5+ Kc3 35. Rh3+ Kd2 36. Qb2+ Ke1 37. Rh1+ Qf1 38. Qc1+ Ke2 39.
Qxf1+ Ke3 40. Qf3+ Kd4 41. Rd1+ Kxe5 42. Rd5+ Ke6 43. Qf5+ Ke7 44. Rd7+ Ke8 45.
Qf7# 1-0

[Event "World Championship Candidates"]
[Site "Berlin GER"]
[Date "2018.03.24"]
[Round "12"]
[White "Sergey Karjakin"]
[Black "Fabiano Caruana"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C42"]
[Annotator "Soltis, Andy"]
[PlyCount "95"]
[EventDate "2018.03.10"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. Nc3 Nxc3 6. dxc3 Nc6 7. Be3 Be7
8. Qd2 Be6 9. O-O-O Qd7 10. a3 h6 11. Nd4 Nxd4 12. Bxd4 Rg8 13. Be2 c5 14. Be3
d5 15. f4 O-O-O 16. Bf3 {[#]} Bg4 (16... Kb8) 17. Bxd5 Bxd1 18. Rxd1 Qc7 19. c4
Rge8 20. Qf2 b6 21. g4 Bf6 22. Kb1 Rd7 23. Rd3 g5 24. Ka2 Ree7 25. Qf3 Kd8 26.
Bd2 Kc8 27. Qf1 Rd6 28. fxg5 Bxg5 29. Bxg5 hxg5 30. Qf5+ Rdd7 31. Qxg5 Qe5 32.
Qh6 Kd8 33. g5 Qd6 34. Qh8+ Re8 35. Qh4 Qg6 36. Qg4 Re5 37. h4 Ke7 38. Rd2 b5
39. Bxf7 Qf5 40. Rxd7+ Kxd7 41. Qxf5+ Rxf5 42. g6 Ke7 43. cxb5 Rh5 44. c4 Rxh4
45. a4 Rg4 46. a5 Kd6 47. a6 Kc7 48. Kb3 1-0

[Event "Bled-Zagreb-Belgrade Candidates"]
[Site "Bled, Zagreb & Belgrade YUG"]
[Date "1959.09.14"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Pal Benko"]
[Black "Paul Keres"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A29"]
[Annotator "Soltis, Andy"]
[PlyCount "84"]
[EventDate "1959.09.07"]

1. c4 Nf6 2. Nc3 e5 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. g3 Bc5 5. Bg2 O-O 6. O-O Re8 7. e3 Bb4 8. Nd5
Bf8 9. d4 d6 10. Qb3 {[#]} Ne4 (10... exd4 11. Nxd4 Nxd5 12. cxd5 Nxd4 13. exd4
b6) 11. Rd1 h6 12. Qc2 exd4 13. Nxd4 Nxd4 14. Rxd4 Nc5 15. b3 c6 16. Nc3 a5 17.
Ba3 Qg5 18. Re1 Bf5 19. Qd1 Qg6 20. e4 Bg4 21. f3 Be6 22. Ne2 Qg5 23. Qd2 Qxd2
24. Rxd2 a4 25. b4 (25. Bxc5 dxc5 26. Nf4) 25... Nd7 26. Rc1 Ne5 27. Rdc2 d5
28. cxd5 cxd5 29. Nf4 dxe4 30. fxe4 Rad8 31. Nd5 Bxd5 32. exd5 Nd3 33. Rd1 Ne1
34. Rcd2 Re3 35. Bc1 Bd6 36. a3 Rc8 37. Bb2 Rc2 38. Bd4 Re8 39. Rxc2 (39. Bh1)
39... Nxc2 40. Bc5 Rd8 41. Bb6 Ra8 42. Bc5 Rd8 0-1

[Event "Gibraltar Masters"]
[Site "Catalan Bay GIB"]
[Date "2019.01.30"]
[Round "9.110"]
[White "Paul Obiamiwe"]
[Black "Konstantinos Nikolaidis"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D24"]
[WhiteElo "1903"]
[BlackElo "2167"]
[Annotator "Soltis, Andy"]
[PlyCount "54"]
[EventDate "2019.01.22"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 Nf6 3. c4 dxc4 4. Nc3 a6 5. a4 Nc6 6. e3 Na5 7. Ne5 Be6 8. Be2
c6 9. O-O g6 10. Ra3 Nd7 11. Nxd7 Qxd7 12. Ne4 Nb3 13. Bd2 Bd5 14. Nc5 Nxc5 15.
dxc5 e5 16. e4 Bxe4 17. Bxc4 O-O-O 18. Qe2 Qxd2 19. Qxe4 Qd4 20. Qe2 Bxc5 21.
Rb3 Rd7 22. Bxa6 bxa6 23. Qxa6+ Kc7 24. Rb7+ Kd6 25. Rb3 Ke7 26. Qxc6 {[#]}
Qxf2+ 27. Rxf2 Rd1# 0-1

[Event "Gibraltar Masters"]
[Site "Caleta Hotel, Gibraltar"]
[Date "2019.01.31"]
[Round "10.55"]
[White "Evgeny Zanan"]
[Black "Srivatshav P Rahul"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B13"]
[WhiteElo "2528"]
[BlackElo "2370"]
[Annotator "Soltis, Andy"]
[PlyCount "60"]
[EventDate "2019.01.22"]

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. exd5 cxd5 4. Bd3 Nc6 5. c3 Nf6 6. Bf4 g6 7. Qc2 Bg7 8. Nf3
Nh5 9. Be3 O-O 10. O-O f6 11. Rd1 Bg4 12. Be2 e5 13. dxe5 fxe5 14. Ng5 Bxe2 15.
Qxe2 Qd7 16. Na3 Rad8 17. Nc2 Qe7 18. Nf3 e4 19. Nfd4 Ne5 20. b3 Nd3 21. Ne1
Nhf4 22. Qd2 Bxd4 23. cxd4 Qg5 24. Bxf4 Nxf4 25. Qe3 Rc8 26. Kf1 Qh4 27. h3 {
[#]} Rc3 28. Qxc3 Nxh3 29. Nd3 exd3 30. Rd2 Rxf2+ 0-1

[Event "Gibraltar Masters"]
[Site "Catalan Bay GIB"]
[Date "2019.01.30"]
[Round "9.118"]
[White "Said Francois-Haugrin"]
[Black "Sead Kozarcanin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C56"]
[WhiteElo "1825"]
[BlackElo "2048"]
[Annotator "Soltis, Andy"]
[PlyCount "55"]
[EventDate "2019.01.22"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. d4 exd4 5. O-O Nxe4 6. Re1 d5 7. Bb5 Be7 8.
Nxd4 Qd6 9. f3 Nf6 10. Qe2 Be6 11. Kh1 O-O-O 12. Bxc6 bxc6 13. Qa6+ Kd7 14. Bf4
Qc5 15. c3 Bd6 16. Bg5 Qb6 17. Qa4 Bc5 18. Nb3 h6 19. Bxf6 gxf6 20. N1d2 Ke7
21. Nxc5 Qxc5 22. Nb3 Qb6 23. Nd4 Kd7 24. f4 f5 25. Rad1 Kd6 {[#]} 26. c4 c5
27. Nxf5+ Bxf5 28. Rxd5# 1-0

[Event "Gibraltar Masters"]
[Site "Catalan Bay GIB"]
[Date "2019.01.24"]
[Round "3.45"]
[White "Rauf Mamedov"]
[Black "Vaso Blesic"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B13"]
[WhiteElo "2703"]
[BlackElo "2390"]
[Annotator "Soltis, Andy"]
[PlyCount "59"]
[EventDate "2019.01.22"]

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. exd5 cxd5 4. Bd3 Nc6 5. c3 Nf6 6. Bf4 g6 7. Nf3 Bg7 8. O-O
O-O 9. h3 Bf5 10. Re1 Bxd3 11. Qxd3 Qb6 12. Nbd2 Qxb2 13. Reb1 Qa3 14. Rxb7
Rfc8 15. Rab1 Bf8 16. R7b2 Na5 17. Rc2 Qa4 18. Ne5 Nd7 19. Rb4 Nxe5 20. dxe5
Qc6 21. Rb5 Nc4 22. Rxd5 e6 23. Rd4 Na3 24. Rb2 Bc5 25. Rd7 Bb6 26. Ne4 Rd8 {
[#]} 27. Qf3 Qc4 28. Nf6+ Kg7 29. Bh6+ Kxh6 30. Rxf7 1-0

[Event "Gibraltar Masters"]
[Site "Catalan Bay GIB"]
[Date "2019.01.23"]
[Round "2.96"]
[White "Camille De Seroux"]
[Black "Adam C Taylor"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C29"]
[WhiteElo "2145"]
[BlackElo "2356"]
[Annotator "Soltis, Andy"]
[PlyCount "53"]
[EventDate "2019.01.22"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. f4 d5 4. fxe5 Nxe4 5. Nf3 Bg4 6. Qe2 Nxc3 7. dxc3 c6 8.
Bf4 Qa5 9. h3 Qa4 10. Bg3 Bxf3 11. Qxf3 Nd7 12. Bd3 Bc5 13. a3 Bb6 14. e6 Nf6
15. exf7+ Kxf7 16. O-O-O Rhe8 17. Rhf1 Kg8 18. Qf5 Ne4 19. Qf7+ Kh8 20. Be5
Be3+ 21. Kb1 Bh6 22. Rf5 b5 23. Rh5 Rf8 24. Qe6 Nf6 {[#]} 25. Rxh6 Rae8 26.
Rxf6 (26. Rxh7+ Nxh7 27. Qh6 (27. Bxg7+)) 26... Rxe6 (26... gxf6 27. Bxf6+) 27.
Rxf8# 1-0

[Event "Gibraltar Masters"]
[Site "Catalan Bay GIB"]
[Date "2019.01.27"]
[Round "6.15"]
[White "Miguel Santos Ruiz"]
[Black "Pavel Eljanov"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E32"]
[WhiteElo "2543"]
[BlackElo "2680"]
[Annotator "Soltis, Andy"]
[PlyCount "58"]
[EventDate "2019.01.22"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 O-O 5. e4 d6 6. e5 Bxc3+ 7. Qxc3 Ne4 8.
Qe3 f5 9. exf6 Nxf6 10. Nf3 e5 11. dxe5 dxe5 12. Be2 e4 13. Nd4 Bg4 14. O-O
Bxe2 15. Nxe2 Nc6 16. b3 Nb4 17. Qc3 Nd3 18. Bg5 Qe8 19. Nf4 h6 20. Nxd3 hxg5
21. Nb4 c6 22. Nc2 Nh5 23. Rae1 Nf4 24. f3 Rd8 25. Qe3 Qh5 26. Rd1 {[#]} Rxd1
27. Rxd1 exf3 28. gxf3 (28. Qxf3 Ne2+) 28... g4 (28... Re8) 29. Rf1 Qg6 0-1

[Event "Indiana Class Tourney"]
[Site "Crowne Plaza"]
[Date "2018.09.16"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Ramirez, Alex"]
[Black "Henry, Eric"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C68"]
[WhiteElo "1429"]
[BlackElo "1550"]
[Annotator "Alburt, Lev"]
[PlyCount "120"]
[EventDate "2018.??.??"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Bxc6 dxc6 5. d4 (5. O-O) 5... exd4 6. Qxd4
Qxd4 7. Nxd4 Bd7 8. O-O Ne7 {[#]} 9. Bf4 O-O-O 10. e5 $2 {This seems to waste
a tempo for no reason.} c5 (10... Ng6 11. Bg3 h5 12. h3 (12. e6) (12. h4 Be7)
12... Bxh3 13. Nxc6 bxc6 14. gxh3 h4) (10... Bg4) 11. Nb3 Nc6 12. Re1 {[#]} Be6
(12... c4) 13. c3 c4 14. N3d2 Rd3 {My plan is to turn this rook into a passed
pawn.} 15. Re3 Bc5 (15... Rxe3) 16. Rg3 {[#]} (16. Rxd3) 16... g6 (16... Rxg3 {
is best because} 17. Bxg3 Rd8 {and white's knights are clumsy}) 17. Rxd3 cxd3 {
I was happy to get the passed pawn, but wonder if it's vulnerable because it's
so far advanced. And protecting it with an eventual c4 doesn't seem practical
because I'd have to displace 2 well positioned minor pieces first.} 18. Ne4 Be7
19. Ng5 (19. Bh6) 19... Bd5 20. Nd2 h6 21. Nge4 g5 22. Bg3 Kd7 {Black picks
the wrong time for this plan of centralizing his king via the light squares.}
23. Nf6+ Ke6 $4 {BxN was necessary, but the potential for an opposite colored
bishop ending makes the passed pawn less of an advantage.} (23... Bxf6) 24. c4
{[#]} Bxc4 {Not time to resign, black still has the passed pawn to fight with.}
25. Nxc4 b5 26. Ne3 Nxe5 27. Bxe5 Kxe5 28. Nd7+ $4 {White gets too casual and
matches black's earlier blunder} Kd6 29. Rd1 {[#]} Kxd7 30. Rxd3+ Ke6 {Black
has reached the ending with an extra pawn. White's plan is to keep the rooks
on the board for best drawing chances, while black wants to simplify to a king
and pawn endgame.} 31. Nd5 Bd6 32. Nc3 Re8 33. Ne4 f5 34. Nc3 Kd7 35. g3 c5 36.
b3 Kc6 37. Kf1 c4 38. bxc4 bxc4 39. Rd4 Kc5 40. Rd5+ Kb4 $1 {[#] White won't
have time to get to black's pawns because of the passed pawn's strength!} 41.
Ne2 (41. Rxd6 Kxc3 42. Rxa6 Rb8 43. Rxh6 Kb2 44. Rc6 c3 45. Ke2 c2 46. Kd2
c1=Q+ 47. Rxc1 Rd8+) 41... Bf8 42. Ke1 c3 43. Rd4+ Kc5 {Ka3 is better since
the king is positioned to best assist the passer} (43... Ka3 44. Rc4 Kb2) 44.
Rd3 Bg7 45. Rd7 Be5 {Covering white's checking square and centralizing nicely}
46. Kd1 Rb8 47. Nc1 Kc6 48. Rh7 Rd8+ 49. Kc2 Rd2+ 50. Kb3 Kb5 {[#] The c pawn
is all that matters and black is best in this position when he doesn't stress
about losing his kingside pawns} 51. a4+ (51. Rxh6 Rb2+ 52. Ka3 Bg7 $1 {
losing the rook or getting mated} 53. Rg6 Bf8+ 54. Rd6 Bxd6#) 51... Kc5 52. Ka3
{Kc4 makes the task simpler} Rd1 (52... Kc4 53. Rxh6 Bd6+) 53. Nb3+ Kc4 54.
Rxh6 c2 {too soon! The pawn is harder to hold on the light square. White's
rook will move behind it, forcing the king to protect from a light square, at
which point the knight moves with check. Black is feeling time pressure with
about 20 minutes left.} 55. Rc6+ Kd3 {[#]} 56. Rxa6 {Too greedy, but white is
also getting into time trouble. Nc5+ was better.} (56. Nc5+ Ke2 57. Nb3 Kd3 58.
Nc5+ Ke2 59. Nb3 Kxf2) 56... Rb1 ({Noticed} 56... Ra1+ {during the game, but
since white doesn't have to take the rook, I didn't look at it further and
therefore didn't find Bc3 followed by Rb1, winning the knight} 57. Kb4 Bc3+ 58.
Kc5 Rb1 {and the knight will disappear followed by pawn promotion} 59. Rb6 Rxb3
60. Rxb3 c1=Q) 57. Rc6 Bc3 58. Ka2 {I was expecting Nc5, but that only holds
for a little bit longer.} (58. Nc5+ Ke2 59. Re6+ Kd1 60. Rd6+ Bd2) 58... Rxb3
$1 59. Rd6+ Ke2 60. Rc6 c1=N# {[#] A nice ending to make up for the game
altering blunders shared by both players in the middle game.} 0-1

[Event "Netanya Masters"]
[Site "Netanya ISR"]
[Date "2019.06.28"]
[Round "6.2"]
[White "Leinier Dominguez Perez"]
[Black "Evgeny Postny"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C90"]
[WhiteElo "2760"]
[BlackElo "2601"]
[Annotator "Hess, Robert"]
[PlyCount "77"]
[EventDate "2019.06.23"]

{Leinier Dominguez has had a triumphant return to classical chess. Following a
two and a half year hiatus, he finished a half point shy of the U.S.
Championship title and impressed in the Russian Team Championship. Tournament
victories in Netanya, Israel (with Gelfand) and the famed Dortmund tournament
catapulted Dominguez into the world top 10. His subtle yet deadly style was on
full display against the strong Israeli GM Evgeny Postny.} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6
3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. a4 ({The immediate} 8.
c3 {is the most common theoretical line. Play continues} O-O 9. h3 Na5 10. Bc2
c5 11. d4 Qc7 {and there are many branches.}) 8... Bg4 ({In order to defend
the pawn, Black can also push it.} 8... b4 9. a5 O-O 10. d3 Be6 11. Nbd2 {
has a long history, including game 1 of the Kasparov-Short PCA Championship
Match in 1993. The a5 pawn is a potential liability, though White has firm
control over important queenside squares.}) 9. c3 O-O 10. h3 Bh5 {An
understandable decision given that elite players love their bishop pairs.
Taking on f3 probably felt too accommodating.} ({The opening hardly could have
come as a complete surprise to Postny, seeing as Michael Adams opted for} 10...
Bxf3 11. Qxf3 Na5 12. Bc2 c5 13. axb5 axb5 14. d3 Qd7 15. Nd2 Nc6 16. Rb1 d5
17. exd5 Nxd5 18. Nf1 Kh8 19. Bd2 f5 {and quickly drew in Dominguez-Adams,
World Cup 2015. Of course, there are numerous alternatives along the way for
both sides.}) 11. d3 Na5 {[#]} 12. Ba2 (12. Bc2 c5 13. Nbd2 {is standard, but
Dominguez's play is sensible. The bishop is a much stronger piece on the a2-g8
diagonal. Postny had previously played} b4 14. Qe2 Qc7 15. Nf1 bxc3 16. bxc3 c4
17. Bg5 cxd3 18. Bxd3 Nb3 19. Ra3 Nc5 {and was better as Black but ultimately
drew in Czarnota-Postny, Greek Team Championship 2016.}) 12... c5 13. Bg5 {
It's at this very moment that Black regrets having the bishop on h5, totally
locked out of play. The d5 square is White's for the taking.} b4 {Necessary
before White can open up the a-file and plant the bishop on d5.} ({A curious
option, as in many closed Ruy Lopez structures, is} 13... c4 {But this will
transition into a "bad Sicilian" where White seizes control of the d5 square.
Even in the event of bishops of opposite colors, White obtains the edge. By no
means forced, but to illustrate the point:} 14. Na3 Rb8 15. axb5 axb5 16. dxc4
({Rerouting the knight to d5, beginning with} 16. Nc2 {is an attractive idea.})
16... bxc4 17. Nxc4 Nxc4 18. Bxc4 Rxb2 19. Qd3 Bxf3 20. Qxf3 Qc7 21. Bxf6 Bxf6
22. Bd5 {is pleasant for White, who will press without risk.}) 14. cxb4 {
The first new move. To this point, the players had been following Vovk-Yu from
just three weeks prior where a similar plan was employed except White did not
capture on b4.} cxb4 15. Nbd2 Rb8 {More or less forcing White's hand.} ({
Although bishops are often valued more than knights, in this structure the d5
square is the target.} 15... Nd7 {therefore has merit.}) 16. Bxf6 ({White did
not have the time needed to harmonize his pieces, since} 16. Rc1 {is met by} b3
17. Nxb3 Nxb3 18. Bxb3 Bxf3 19. gxf3 Nh5 {with dark square domination for
Black.}) 16... Bxf6 17. Bd5 Qd7 18. g4 Bg6 {[#] White's position looks more or
less perfect. The bishop on d5 is the game's best piece while its counterpart
on g6 lacks a proper diagonal. Black can initiate a slow plan of maneuvering,
but there are no tangible weaknesses in either camp. What exactly is White's
plan?} 19. Nf1 Bd8 {An inaccuracy that relies on White's unwillingness to
break in the center.} (19... Nb7 {would be a better inactive piece to reroute.
This way the bishop still serves a purpose - preventing d4 - as Black
coordinates. Importantly, this poses a difficult question to White: should he
trade off his beautiful bishop to prevent the impending knight jumps (perhaps
as far as Nc5-e6-f4)?} 20. Bxb7 ({Clearing the d5 square for the knight while
keeping the bishop is probably a better option. Still, Black's position is
much improved after say} 20. Ne3 Nc5 21. Bc4 Rfc8 22. a5 h6 23. Nd5 Bd8 {
with chances for both sides.}) 20... Rxb7 21. Ne3 b3 22. Nd5 Bd8 {is starting
to look good for Black, who will play f6 and free the light-squared bishop.})
20. Ne3 ({Here and on the next move,} 20. d4 {is a critical variation. However,
in a closed position where your opponent has two (inactive) bishops it is
psychologically difficult to open up the board.} Nc6 (20... exd4 21. Nxd4 Bf6
22. Qd2 Rfc8 23. Ne3 {White's minor pieces are superior.}) ({Although a
typical means of challenging an extended kingside,} 20... h5 21. Ne3 hxg4 22.
hxg4 Nc6 23. Kg2 {might just result in a mate down the h-file.}) (20... Re8 21.
Ng3 Bb6 22. Nf5 {is a straightforward space grab.}) 21. Bxc6 Qxc6 22. dxe5 Bxe4
23. Nd4 Qa8 (23... Qd5 24. exd6 Bf6 {would be good for Black if not for} 25.
Nf5 Qxd1 26. Ne7+ $1 Bxe7 27. Raxd1 {with a favorable ending.}) 24. exd6 {
would be best summarized as murky compensation for the pawn, with White to be
preferred. Control of the long diagonal is visually appealing but devoid of
concrete threats.}) 20... Bb6 21. Nc4 {Considering the bind he achieved in the
game, it's understandable that Dominguez did not want to hand Postny any
active plans.} (21. d4 {allows Black to trade pieces, which usually is
beneficial for the side with less space. Most continuations prove favorable
for White, though precisely evaluating them at the board is extremely
difficult.} Nc6 (21... exd4 22. Nxd4 Qa7 23. Ndf5 Bxf5 24. exf5 Rfe8 25. Qd2
Bxe3 26. Rxe3 Rxe3 27. Qxe3 Qxe3 28. fxe3 {does not equalize. Endgames are
also good for White.}) 22. a5 $1 (22. Bxc6 Qxc6 23. Nd5 Rfe8 24. Rc1 Qb7 25.
dxe5 dxe5 26. Nh4 {is worse for Black.}) 22... Nxa5 (22... Ba7 23. Bxc6 Qxc6
24. Nd5 Rb7 25. Rc1 Qd7 26. dxe5 dxe5 27. Qe2 {The pawn on a6 is loose, and
White's knights control the board. The bishop on g6 is doing nothing and it
takes precious time to regroup with f6 and Bf7.} ({Not} 27. Nxe5 $2 Qd6 {
when Qg3+ can't be stopped.})) 23. dxe5 {steals a center pawn for a flank one,
a good trade for White. Practically, though, Black's position is more flexible
than many of the other variations.}) 21... Nxc4 22. dxc4 Kh8 {While,
objectively, Black may be fine here, the position is miserable to play. The
side that controls the pawn breaks tends to have the advantage, and here is no
exception. Black has few actual plans and is playing defense against White's
progress on the kingside. Postny's latest move ensured that he would not
obtain queenside initiative. To me, this was the losing decision.} (22... b3 $5
{sacrifices a pawn for the compensation of tying White's pieces down and using
the dark squares.} 23. Ra3 Bc5 24. Rxb3 Qe7 25. Kg2 Qf6) 23. b3 {Shutting down
the queenside for good.} f6 24. Qd2 Be8 {In retrospect, allowing Dominguez to
keep the monster bishop on d5 proved fatal.} (24... Bf7 25. Bxf7 Qxf7 {looks
very unappealing for Black, who will be forced to shuffle around as White
adopts the setup of his choosing. While engines can pass and prevent
breakthroughs without issue, humans struggle when deprived of legitimate plans.
}) 25. Kh2 Bc5 26. Rg1 g6 27. Rg3 Qe7 28. Rag1 Bd7 ({Again Postny refrains
from trading the light-squared bishops. He likely was anticipating a kingside
pawn storm.} 28... Bf7 {would have prevented the game continuation.}) 29. R1g2
{Incredible restraint by Dominguez, illustrating how helpless Black is.} ({
An impatient approach was to go full steam ahead with} 29. h4 Kg7 {when there
is danger that the position is too locked up to make headway. If White ever
pushes h5, Black responds with g5.}) 29... Rbe8 {[#]} 30. Nh4 $1 {A brilliant
idea by Dominguez. Postny was waiting for the inevitable pawn storm, but it is
the knight that uses the h4 square to sacrifice itself and expose the Black
king.} Bc8 ({There was an absolutely ridiculous resource available here, that
no human is finding over the board as Black:} 30... Be6 {stops Nf5 but walks
into a blistering attack.} 31. Bxe6 Qxe6 32. Nxg6+ hxg6 33. Qh6+ Kg8 34. Qxg6+
Kh8 35. Qh6+ Kg8 36. g5 f5 37. g6 Re7 38. Rg5 fxe4 39. Rh5 Qf6 40. g7 Rxg7 41.
Qh7+ Kf7 42. Rxg7+ Ke8 {and Black somehow is kicking.}) 31. Nf5 Qa7 (31... gxf5
32. gxf5 {is devastating. Qh6 followed by Rg7 is unstoppable.}) 32. Kh1 $1 {
Prophylaxis.} ({Of course White would have preferred} 32. Qh6 Bxf2 33. Rxf2 {
but the queen recapture is with check!} Qxf2+) 32... Re7 {A desperate attempt
that fails to majestic tactics.} (32... Bb7 33. Ne3 Bxe3 34. Rxe3 Bxd5 35. Qxd5
{is painful for Black, who has the only weaknesses on the board. At least
Black can put up resistance here.}) 33. Qh6 ({Greed is not always good.} 33.
Nxe7 Qxe7 {gives Black hope. There are few ways to break open new files for
the rooks, so the surplus exchange is not the greatest advantage possible.})
33... Rg7 34. g5 fxg5 35. Rxg5 Rf6 {[#]} 36. Rxg6 $1 {A fantastic shot to end
the game.} Rfxg6 37. Rxg6 {The rook is immune due to the back rank mate.} Bxf5
(37... Rxg6 38. Qf8+ Rg8 39. Qxg8#) 38. exf5 Qd7 39. f6 1-0

[Event "Sinquefield Cup 7th"]
[Site "Saint Louis"]
[Date "2019.08.17"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"]
[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A21"]
[WhiteElo "2774"]
[BlackElo "2756"]
[Annotator "Abrahamyan, Tatev"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "8/Rp5r/8/PK1n2k1/8/8/8/8 w - - 0 77"]
[PlyCount "2"]
[EventDate "2019.08.17"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "Mega2019 Update 45"]
[Source "Chessbase"]
[SourceDate "2019.08.31"]

{[#]} 77. Kc4 $4 (77. Kc5 Rd7 78. Ra8 {followed by a6, trading the remaining
pawns. The resulting rook and knight vs rook ending is an easy draw}) 77... b5+
{picking up the rook, as the en passant capture is met with a recapture with a
check} 0-1

[Event "Sinquefield Cup 7th"]
[Site "Saint Louis"]
[Date "2019.08.18"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Caruana, Fabiano"]
[Black "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B90"]
[WhiteElo "2818"]
[BlackElo "2774"]
[Annotator "Abrahamyan, Tatev"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "1r4k1/q3bp2/3p2p1/3Pp1P1/r3B3/Pp1R4/1P3PQ1/1K4R1 b - - 0 28"]
[PlyCount "15"]
[EventDate "2019.08.17"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "Mega2019 Update 45"]
[Source "Chessbase"]
[SourceDate "2019.08.31"]

{[#]} 28... Bf8 (28... Rxa3 $1 29. bxa3 Qxa3 {this part is easy to spot.
Question is what happens after} 30. f3 {[#]} Qa7 $3 {the only move that wins.
The queen is eyeing the rook on g1 while threatening b2, which makes Qb2
impossible.} 31. Rdd1 b2 32. Kc2 (32. Qxb2 Rxb2+ 33. Kxb2 Qf2+ $19 {because
the white king is so weak, the queen is completely dominant against the two
rooks}) 32... Qc5+ 33. Kb1 (33. Kd2 Rb3 34. Rge1 Qc4 {followed by Bd8-a5
checkmate!}) 33... Qa3 34. Kc2 Bd8 $19 {bringing another piece into the attack.
Due to the b2 pawn, White is completely paralyzed on the first rank. This
position is yet another great example of the usefulness of having opposite
colored bishops during an attack}) 29. f3 {Fabiano successfully consolidates
his position} Rc4 30. Rh1 Qc7 31. Qh2 Bg7 32. Qe2 Bf8 33. Qh2 Bg7 34. Qe2 Bf8
35. Qh2 Bg7 1/2-1/2

[Event "Sinquefield Cup 7th"]
[Site "Saint Louis"]
[Date "2019.08.18"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Giri, Anish"]
[Black "Aronian, Levon"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2779"]
[BlackElo "2765"]
[Annotator "Abrahamyan, Tatev"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "1R6/5p1k/1P4p1/1r1Np1P1/4n2P/7K/8/8 w - - 0 48"]
[PlyCount "11"]
[EventDate "2019.08.17"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "Mega2019 Update 45"]
[Source "Chessbase"]
[SourceDate "2019.08.31"]

{[#]} 48. b7 $2 (48. Nf6+ {transitioning to the rook endgame wins the game}
Nxf6 49. gxf6 e4 50. Kg3 e3 51. Kf3 {for example if Black wants to get the f
pawn} Rf5+ 52. Kxe3 Rxf6 53. Kd4 {White wins this endgame by not committing
the pawn to the 7th rank}) 48... Rb2 49. Ne7 (49. Kg4 {White can't easily
bring the king into action because after} Rb3 $3 {Black creates a mating net!}
50. Nf6+ Nxf6+ 51. gxf6 Rb6 52. Kf3 Rxf6+ 53. Ke4 Rb6 54. Kxe5 {We get to the
same endgame, but now it's a draw because the king can't hide on b7 behind the
pawn. As the White king gets closer to the b pawn, the black rook will keep
checking it}) 49... Nd6 50. Ng8 Ne4 51. Ne7 Nd6 52. Nd5 Ne4 53. Ne7 1/2-1/2

[Event "Sinquefield Cup"]
[Site "chess24.com"]
[Date "2019.08.20"]
[Round "4.3"]
[White "Caruana, Fabiano"]
[Black "Aronian, Levon"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C65"]
[WhiteElo "2818"]
[BlackElo "2765"]
[Annotator "Abrahamyan, Tatev"]
[PlyCount "105"]
[EventDate "2019.??.??"]
[WhiteTeam "United States"]
[BlackTeam "Armenia"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "USA"]
[BlackTeamCountry "ARM"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. c3 O-O 6. O-O Re8 {a sideline} (
6... d6 {is the main move in this position}) 7. d4 {already a rare move,
indicating preparation from Fabiano} (7. Nbd2 a6 8. Bxc6 dxc6 9. Nc4 {Levon
must have been expecting this continuation, as Fabiano has played this line
several times before}) 7... Bb6 8. d5 Ne7 9. Nxe5 Nxe4 10. Qf3 Nf6 11. d6 $5
$146 {[#] interesting pawn sacrifice. The idea is to ruin Black's pawn
structure and halt the piece development. When Anish Giri entered the
confessional booth, he jokingly started his confession with a moment of
silence for Levon's c8 bishop} cxd6 12. Nc4 d5 13. Nd6 ({White can also try} 
13. Nxb6 Qxb6 14. Na3 {grabbing the bishop pair}) 13... Rf8 14. Bg5 Ne4 {
Black correctly gives the pawn back} (14... Ng6 15. Bxf6 Qxf6 16. Qxf6 gxf6 {
Black's pawn structure is simply hideous}) 15. Nxe4 dxe4 16. Qxe4 f6 17. Be3 d5
18. Qf3 {Black has successfully finished his development as the c8 bishop will
finally join the game shortly, but is left with an isolated pawn that will
need constant attention} Ng6 19. Na3 Bc7 20. Rad1 Ne5 21. Qe2 a6 22. Ba4 Bg4
23. f3 Be6 24. Bb3 Re8 25. f4 Nc6 {this move gives up the d5 pawn} (25... Ng4
26. Bd4 Qd7 27. Nc2 $14 {still looks nice for White but at least Black hangs
on to the material}) 26. Qf3 Bb6 27. Nc2 Na5 28. Bxd5 Bxd5 29. Rxd5 Bxe3+ 30.
Nxe3 Qb6 31. Rd3 Nc4 32. Qd5+ Kf8 33. Qxc4 Rxe3 34. Rxe3 Qxe3+ 35. Kh1 {
There is still a lot of work to do to convert the extra pawn but Levon was
already very low on the clock} Rd8 36. h3 b5 37. Qc6 Qe2 38. Rf3 Qxb2 ({
Hard to play this with no time on the clock but after} 38... h5 39. Qxa6 h4 {
and Black has some serious threats against the white king with Rd2 as well as
Rd1 and Qe1}) 39. Qxa6 h5 40. Kh2 h4 {excellently played by Levon with no time
on his clock} 41. Qa7 Kg8 {Levon made this move with a second left on his clock
} 42. Qe7 Qd2 43. Re3 Qd6 44. Qe4 Qd5 45. Qb4 Rc8 (45... Qf5 $1 {the queen is
quite dominant here. The powerful piece defends b5 while simultaneously
attacking f4, sheltering black king on the b1-h7 diagonal and threatening to
bring the rook into the game}) 46. a4 Qc5 $4 {[#] a terrible blunder that
costs Black the game} (46... bxa4 47. Qxa4 {White would still need to convert
his extra pawn, but with Levon relying solely on delay, it's hard to imagine
him holding this}) 47. Re8+ Kh7 48. Rxc8 Qxc8 49. axb5 Qf5 50. b6 Qd3 51. c4
Qg3+ 52. Kh1 Qd3 53. c5 1-0

[Event "Sinquefield Cup"]
[Site "chess24.com"]
[Date "2019.08.21"]
[Round "5.4"]
[White "Ding, Liren"]
[Black "Giri, Anish"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D38"]
[WhiteElo "2805"]
[BlackElo "2779"]
[Annotator "Abrahamyan, Tatev"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "2rr2k1/pp4p1/6bp/n1p2pq1/3Pp3/2P1P1N1/P3BPPP/1QRR2K1 w - - 0 22"]
[PlyCount "51"]
[EventDate "2019.??.??"]
[WhiteTeam "China"]
[BlackTeam "Netherlands"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "CHN"]
[BlackTeamCountry "NED"]

{[#]} 22. dxc5 $1 {Not an easy move to play as White gives himself a permanent
pawn weakness. At this point, he can't make any more progress and has to make
a committal decision. In return, white rooks will take over the d file} Rxc5
23. Rd4 Bf7 24. Rcd1 Rdc8 25. Bb5 g6 $2 {the whole sequence of Bf7 and g6
simply weakens the dark squares around the black king} 26. Ne2 Qf6 27. Ba4 Qe5
28. Bb3 {great bishop maneuver forcing an exchange on the b3 square, fixing
the pawn structure} Nxb3 29. axb3 R5c7 30. c4 a6 31. Nf4 b5 32. Nd5 Rc6 33. c5
$1 {[#] when one has a dominant position, tactics usually work out on their
favor!} a5 (33... Rxc5 34. Nb6 R8c6 35. Nd7 $18 {winning the exchange}) 34. b4
axb4 35. Qxb4 Rb8 (35... Rxc5 36. Nb6 {the pawn is untouchable for the same
reason} R8c7 37. Nd7) 36. Nb6 Be6 37. Nd7 Bxd7 38. Rd5 Qe7 39. Rxd7 {
exploiting the weakness of the black king} Qxc5 40. Qb3+ Qc4 41. Qb2 Qc3 42.
Qa2+ Rc4 43. g3 {There is no rush} Rbc8 44. R1d6 Kf8 45. Rxg6 b4 46. Rxh6 f4
47. gxf4 1-0

[Event "Sinquefield Cup"]
[Site "chess24.com"]
[Date "2019.08.20"]
[Round "4.1"]
[White "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Black "So, Wesley"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C42"]
[WhiteElo "2756"]
[BlackElo "2776"]
[Annotator "Abrahamyan, Tatev"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "4r1k1/p1p3pp/1p1b4/q4pN1/1nPP4/3Q4/P2B1PPP/1R4K1 w - - 0 20"]
[PlyCount "46"]
[EventDate "2019.??.??"]
[WhiteTeam "India"]
[BlackTeam "United States"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "IND"]
[BlackTeamCountry "USA"]

{[#] Up until now, Anand has played energetically and it looks like the So
should be getting checkmated} 20. Qf3 $6 {maintains the advantage but Anand
had a better alternative} (20. Qf1 $3 Qxa2 21. Re1 $1 Rf8 22. Qe2 $1 {this
sequence is extremely difficult to find} Kh8 {running away from the check on e6
} 23. Ne6 Rb8 {defending against c5, as the rook on b8 will defend the knight}
24. Nd8 $3 {exploiting the back rank} h6 25. Nf7+ Kh7 26. Nxd6 cxd6 27. Bxb4
$18) 20... h6 21. Bxb4 Qxb4 22. Qd5+ Kh8 23. Nf7+ Kh7 24. Rf1 Re1 25. Qxf5+ Kg8
26. Nxd6 cxd6 27. Qd3 Rxf1+ 28. Kxf1 Qb2 29. a3 d5 30. cxd5 Qa1+ 31. Ke2 Qa2+
32. Ke3 Qxd5 33. g3 b5 34. Qc3 Qe6+ 35. Kd3 a5 36. Qxa5 Qc4+ 37. Ke3 Qe6+ 38.
Kd2 Qa2+ 39. Ke1 Qb1+ 40. Kd2 Qa2+ 41. Ke3 Qe6+ 42. Kd2 Qa2+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Sinquefield Cup"]
[Site "chess24.com"]
[Date "2019.08.26"]
[Round "9.1"]
[White "Ding, Liren"]
[Black "Caruana, Fabiano"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D37"]
[WhiteElo "2805"]
[BlackElo "2818"]
[Annotator "Abrahamyan, Tatev"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "2Rr2k1/p4pp1/P2rpn1p/q3N3/8/4P2P/4QPP1/2R3K1 w - - 0 31"]
[PlyCount "53"]
[EventDate "2019.??.??"]
[WhiteTeam "China"]
[BlackTeam "United States"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "CHN"]
[BlackTeamCountry "USA"]

{[#]} 31. f4 {White is trying to create chances on the kingside by affixing
the knight on e5} Rd2 $2 {this move is very loose. Perhaps Caruana didn't
sense the danger} (31... Nd7 $1 {forces the trade of the pieces} 32. Rxd8+ Qxd8
33. Nc6 Qb6 34. Ne7+ Kh7 35. Nc8 Qxa6 36. Qc2+ Rd3 37. Rd1 Nc5 {and all of
Black's pieces are defended tactically}) 32. Qf3 R2d5 33. R1c7 Kh7 34. Kh2 Rxc8
35. Rxc8 Qxa6 36. Ra8 $2 (36. Rf8 $142 Nd7 37. Nxd7 Rxd7 38. Qe4+ f5 39. Rxf5
exf5 40. Qxf5+ Kg8 41. Qxd7 {White is up a pawn but Ding thought that Black
will have good drawing chances}) 36... Qb7 37. Rf8 Rb5 $2 {understandable
mistake as the correct continuation is nearly impossible to come up with at
the board} (37... Qb4 38. Rxf7 Qb1 39. Qg3 Nh5 40. Qg4 Rd1 41. Qxh5 Rh1+ 42.
Kg3 Qe1+ 43. Kg4 Qe2+ 44. Kh4 Rxh3+ $3 {an amazing resource that forces a
perpetual} 45. gxh3 Qf2+ 46. Kg4 Qe2+ $11) 38. Qf1 $1 {excellent move,
bringing the queen on the b1-h7 diagonal} Qd5 39. Nxf7 Nd7 40. Rd8 Rb8 41. Rxb8
Nxb8 42. Qb1+ Qf5 43. Qb7 {the material is equal, but Black's vulnerable king
can't survive the attack, even with limited material on the board} Nc6 44. Nd6
Qc5 45. Ne4 Qc2 (45... Qxe3 46. Qxc6 Qxf4+ {gives Black some practical drawing
chances}) 46. Nf6+ Kg6 47. Ne8 {a little knight dance. The knight could have
gone to e8 directly, but first it chased the queen away and forced the king to
a worse square} Qc3 48. e4 $1 {[#] stopping the escape path of the king via f5
and threatening e5} a5 49. Qd7 a4 50. Qxe6+ Kh7 51. e5 Nd4 52. Qd7 Kg6 53.
Qxg7+ Kf5 54. Nd6+ Kxf4 55. Qf6+ Ke3 56. e6 Kd3 57. e7 {flawless technique by
Ding!} 1-0

[Event "7th Sinquefield Cup 2019"]
[Site "Saint Louis USA"]
[Date "2019.08.27"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Vachier-Lagrave, Maxime"]
[Black "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B31"]
[Annotator "Abrahamyan, Tatev"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "2bq2rk/pr2p1bp/2np4/2p2p1P/2P1PB2/1PN1RN2/P4QP1/5RK1 b - - 0 22"]
[PlyCount "45"]
[EventDate "2019.08.17"]

{[#]} 22... Bxc3 $1 {parting with the fiancettoed bishop isn't easy, but
Carlsen has an idea in mind} 23. Rxc3 e5 24. Rd3 {desperate attempt but it's
hard to suggest anything better} (24. Bh6 f4 $19 {traps the bishop}) 24... exf4
25. Qb2+ Rbg7 26. h6 fxe4 27. Rd2 exf3 28. hxg7+ Rxg7 29. Rxf3 Qg5 30. Rdf2 Nd4
31. Rxf4 Bf5 {Black is up material and is dominating the board. The rest is
just a matter of time} 32. b4 Be6 33. Rf8+ Bg8 34. bxc5 dxc5 35. Qb8 Qe3 36.
Qd6 Qc1+ 37. Kh2 Qg5 38. Qd5 Qh4+ 39. Kg1 Qe7 40. Qh5 Qe3 41. Qh4 Ne2+ 42. Kh1
Qc1+ 43. Rf1 Ng3+ 44. Kg1 Qe3+ 0-1

[Event "Sinquefield Cup"]
[Site "chess24.com"]
[Date "2019.08.29"]
[Round "15.1"]
[White "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Black "Ding, Liren"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C84"]
[WhiteElo "2882"]
[BlackElo "2805"]
[Annotator "Abrahamyan, Tatev"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "1qr3k1/4bp1p/p2p1np1/Q3p1P1/4b3/pP2B1NP/5P2/R3R1K1 b - - 0 32"]
[PlyCount "17"]
[EventDate "2019.??.??"]
[WhiteTeam "Norway"]
[BlackTeam "China"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "NOR"]
[BlackTeamCountry "CHN"]

{[#] it looks like black is losing a piece but...} 32... Ba8 $3 (32... Bc6) 33.
Qxa6 (33. gxf6 Qb7 34. Kf1 Qg2+ 35. Ke2 Qf3+ {forces a draw as} 36. Kd2 {
loses to} Bd8 $1 37. Qxa6 Qd5+ 38. Ke2 (38. Qd3 Ba5+ 39. Ke2 Qf3+ 40. Kf1 Qg2+
41. Ke2 Bf3#) 38... Rc2+ {and mate is coming}) 33... Nd5 34. Ba7 Qc7 35. Rec1
Qxc1+ 36. Rxc1 Rxc1+ 37. Kh2 Bc6 38. Qxa3 Bxg5 39. Qxd6 Bf4 40. Bc5 Ne7 $3 {
[#] what a spectacular way to win the game!} 0-1

[Event "?"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2019.01.03"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Yoo, Christopher"]
[Black "Liem, Le Quang"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B13"]
[WhiteElo "2388"]
[BlackElo "2714"]
[Annotator "Kavutskiy, Kostya"]
[PlyCount "95"]
[EventDate "2019.??.??"]

{[%evp 0,95,19,31,68,48,60,41,54,44,70,33,33,23,28,24,35,10,50,16,23,23,29,-10,
-21,-4,3,-44,-1,2,-5,1,1,-30,-17,-17,-22,-22,-29,-75,-47,-60,-9,-62,-92,0,0,0,
-27,-20,117,-1,0,0,0,20,11,13,21,26,20,20,28,30,30,0,0,0,30,40,40,35,38,23,43,
65,67,50,85,56,88,88,349,365,397,403,404,404,407,410,410,411,427,426,426,427,
532,566]} 1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. exd5 cxd5 4. Nf3 Nc6 5. Bb5 e6 6. c4 dxc4 7. O-O
Bd6 8. Nc3 Nge7 9. Bg5 O-O 10. Bxc4 b6 11. a3 Bb7 12. Re1 Rc8 13. Ba2 h6 14.
Bh4 Qd7 15. d5 exd5 16. Nxd5 Nxd5 17. Bxd5 Rfe8 18. Rxe8+ Rxe8 19. Kh1 g5 20.
Bxg5 $5 {In danger of being worse, Christopher decides to sacrifice a piece
for a potential attack against Black's king.} ({After} 20. Bg3 Bxg3 21. hxg3
Rd8 22. Bb3 Kg7 $15 {Black would have a small edge.}) 20... hxg5 21. Nxg5 Nd8 {
A good response, covering f7 and forcing a trade of light-squared bishops.} 22.
Bxb7 Nxb7 23. Qd3 Kf8 (23... f5 $1 $17 {would have strongly limited White's
attack, but it's not easy to push pawns in front of your king when under fire.}
) 24. Qd4 $1 {Threatening Nh7+ Ke7 Qf6#, or if Kg8 Nf6+} Re5 $2 ({Black needed
to run with} 24... Ke7 $1) 25. f4 $6 {Natural, but missing an immediate win.} (
25. Nh7+ $1 {was actually winning here, with a very nice point} Kg7 (25... Ke7
26. Qh4+ Ke6 27. f4 Rf5 28. Re1+ Kd5 29. Nf6+ Rxf6 30. Qxf6 $18) 26. f4 Qg4 27.
Nf6 $1 {And only this move (!), luring the king to f6.} Qh4 (27... Kxf6 28.
fxe5+ Kg5 29. Qxg4+ Kxg4 30. exd6 $18) 28. Nd7 $1 $18) 25... Qg4 $1 {A nice
active defense.} 26. Rd1 Re2 $6 {Threatening mate but allowing a trick.} ({
The bold} 26... Rf5 $1 {was best, which could lead to} 27. Qh8+ Ke7 28. Re1+
Kd7 29. Qe8+ Kc7 30. g3 $1 {with a complex situation and all three results
still possible.}) 27. Nh7+ Ke7 28. Qf6+ Kd7 29. Qxd6+ $1 {Puzzle Rush.} Nxd6
30. Nf6+ Ke6 31. Nxg4 Rxb2 32. Ne3 {White has been left with an extra pawn but
Black's pieces are quite active.} Re2 33. Nd5 Nc4 34. h4 Kf5 35. h5 Re6 36. Rc1
Nd6 37. Kg1 Kg4 38. Rc7 a5 (38... Kxh5 39. Rxa7 b5 $13 {would be quite tough
for White to win.}) 39. Rc6 b5 $2 {The final mistake.} (39... Kxh5 40. f5 Rh6
41. f6 $1 $14 {would not be so rosy for Black.}) ({But} 39... Kg3 $1 40. Kf1 b5
41. Nc7 Rf6 $1 $11 {would hold, as Nxb5 doesn't work due to Rxf4+.}) 40. Nc7 $1
{Grabbing the chance to get the h-pawn running.} Re7 (40... Rf6 41. Nxb5 $18 {
and}) (40... Rh6 41. Nxb5 Nf5 42. Rxh6 Nxh6 43. Kf2 $18 {are both lost for
Black.}) 41. h6 $1 {All of a sudden Black has a very hard time stopping
White's pawn.} Nf5 42. h7 Re1+ 43. Kf2 Rh1 44. Nd5 $1 {Defending h7 from afar.
Black must give up the knight for the pawn.} Ng3 (44... Rxh7 45. Nf6+ $18) 45.
Rc8 Ne4+ 46. Ke3 Rxh7 47. Kxe4 Rh6 48. Ne3+ {Down a piece Liem resigned. A
messy but adventurous win for Christopher!} 1-0

[Event "St Louis Fall Classic - Group B"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2018.10.17"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Yoo, Christopher Woojin"]
[Black "Holt, Conrad"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C13"]
[WhiteElo "2410"]
[BlackElo "2561"]
[Annotator "Yoo, Christopher"]
[PlyCount "47"]
[EventDate "2018.??.??"]

{[%evp 0,47,15,32,44,32,32,43,42,-8,30,32,16,5,32,23,33,17,18,20,53,46,91,43,
32,10,6,17,25,22,56,37,26,0,0,0,0,-151,-166,0,168,-174,668,660,665,655,638,664,
1268,1295]} 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 {My opponent does not usually play
this move. He probably went for this because of our previous game.} (3... Bb4
4. e5 c5 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. bxc3 Ne7 7. Qg4 O-O 8. Bd3 Nbc6 9. Bg5 Qa5 10. Ne2 Ng6
11. O-O Qa4 12. f4 c4 13. Bxg6 fxg6 14. f5 $1 {This pawn sacrifice helped me
win a nice game.} gxf5 15. Qg3 b5 16. h4 a5 17. h5 Qxc2 18. Nf4 Ra7 19. h6 Rff7
20. Bf6 g6 21. Nxg6 hxg6 22. Qxg6+ Kf8 23. Rf3 Qb2 24. Rd1 Ne7 25. Bxe7+ Raxe7
26. Rg3 Ke8 27. h7 Kd7 28. h8=Q {1-0 Yoo - Holt, Berkeley 2018.}) 4. Bg5 dxe4
5. Nxe4 Be7 6. Bxf6 Bxf6 7. Nf3 O-O 8. Bc4 $5 {This sideline threw my opponent
off. White is preparing to queenside castle.} Nd7 9. Qe2 c5 (9... a6 10. O-O-O
(10. c3 {This is another plausible move.} b5 11. Bd3 Bb7 12. O-O Be7 13. b4 $14
{White has a slight pull, but there is a long game ahead.}) 10... b5 11. Bd3
Bb7 $13 {is unclear.}) 10. O-O-O Be7 11. Nxc5 Nxc5 12. dxc5 Qc7 {This is a
typical idea, but I had something prepared before the game.} 13. Ne5 Bxc5 (
13... Qxc5 {is another possibility.} 14. f4 Rb8 (14... a6 $5 {This is another
plan for Black.} 15. Bd3 Ra7 16. g4 b5 17. g5 Rc7 18. Kb1 Bb7 19. Rhf1 Bd5 $13
{Black's position is playable.}) 15. Bd3 b5 16. Kb1 Bf6 17. Qe4 g6 18. h4 Bb7
19. Qe2 {White will go h5 with an attack.}) 14. f4 b5 15. Bd3 (15. Bxb5 {
I did not go for this because I was thirsty for mate.} Rb8 16. Rhf1 Qb6 17. c4
f6 18. Nc6 Rb7 19. a4 a6 20. a5 Qc7 21. Ba4 $16 {Black does not have enough
compensation.}) 15... Bb7 $2 {[#]} (15... f6 16. Qh5 g6 17. Nxg6 hxg6 18. Bxg6
Be3+ 19. Kb1 Bxf4 20. Rhf1 e5 21. g3 Bg5 22. h4 Be3 23. Be4 Bb7 24. Qg4+ Qg7
25. Qxg7+ Kxg7 26. Bxb7 $16 {This is an example of how play would follow if
both sides were to play perfectly.}) (15... Rb8 {This is Black's best option.}
16. Kb1 a6 17. Rhf1 $14 {White has a much easier position to play than Black.})
16. Bxh7+ $3 {This is the star move of this game.} Kxh7 17. Rd7 Qc8 (17... Qb6
18. Qh5+ Kg8 19. Nxf7 $18) 18. Rhd1 $1 {Bringing the last piece into the
attack!} Kg8 19. R1d3 Bc6 20. Rh3 $1 {The king is more important than the rook!
} Qxd7 (20... Bxd7 21. Qh5 Be3+ 22. Kb1 $18) (20... g6 21. Nxg6 $1 Qxd7 22.
Ne7+ $1 Qxe7 23. Qg4+ Qg5 24. Qxg5#) 21. Qh5 Be3+ 22. Kb1 $1 Qd1+ 23. Qxd1 Rfd8
24. Qh5 1-0

[Event "Heraklion Capablanca Memorial"]
[Site "Heraklion"]
[Date "2019.05.03"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Harff, Marcel"]
[Black "Yoo, Christopher Woojin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D74"]
[WhiteElo "2412"]
[BlackElo "2414"]
[Annotator "Yoo, Christopher"]
[PlyCount "86"]
[EventDate "2019.04.29"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "GRE"]
[EventCategory "7"]

{[%evp 0,86,21,-3,-4,-17,39,16,3,3,11,3,11,3,3,24,24,24,24,24,2,0,3,-10,-1,-7,
-18,-32,-40,-16,-27,-25,-31,-46,-46,-54,-67,-82,-82,-76,-76,-74,-67,-67,-67,
-128,-76,-76,-99,-88,-70,-142,-147,-159,-179,-248,-213,-200,-204,-188,-210,
-259,-155,-206,-176,-230,-186,-217,-217,-217,-237,-281,-304,-304,-304,-304,
-304,-863,-954,-1083,-1159,-29983,-1820,-29993,-29994,-29995,-29996,-29999,
-30000]} 1. c4 Nf6 2. Nf3 g6 3. g3 Bg7 4. Bg2 O-O 5. d4 d5 {I decided to go
for a complicated position.} (5... c6 6. O-O d5 7. cxd5 cxd5 8. Ne5 b6 9. Nc3
Bb7 $11 {The pawn structure leads to a somewhat dry position.}) 6. cxd5 Nxd5 7.
O-O Nc6 8. e4 Nb6 9. d5 Na5 10. Qc2 {I did not know of this move before the
game.} (10. Nc3 {is the main line.} c6 $13 {There are lots of possibilities
for White; most of them lead to double -edged positions.}) 10... c6 11. dxc6 $6
{This move gives me a comfortable position. He gives up his strong d5 pawn.
Now my pieces have more space.} (11. Bd2 $5 Nac4 12. Bc3 cxd5 13. Bxg7 Kxg7 14.
exd5 Bf5 15. Qc3+ Kg8 16. Nd4 Bxb1 17. Raxb1 Rc8 $11 {is equal.}) 11... Nxc6
12. Rd1 Qe8 13. h3 {White prevents Bg4 from Black.} (13. Be3 Bg4 14. h3 Bxf3
15. Bxf3 Rc8 16. Nc3 Nc4 $15 {and Black is slightly better.}) 13... Be6 14. Nc3
Nb4 15. Qb1 (15. Qe2 Bc4 16. Qd2 Rd8 17. Qxd8 Qxd8 18. Rxd8 Rxd8 {Black's lead
in development gives him an advantage.} 19. Be3 Nc2 $15) 15... Rd8 {I decided
to fight for the d-file.} 16. Be3 Rxd1+ 17. Qxd1 Qc8 $1 18. Rc1 Rd8 19. Nd5 (
19. Nd4 {I also considered this move.} Qb8 $1 {I did not consider this move.} (
19... Nc6 {This is what I was planning to do.} 20. Nd5 Bxd5 (20... Nxd5 21.
Nxe6 Nxe3 22. Qxd8+ $1 {This is the difference!}) 21. exd5 Bxd4 22. Bxd4 Nxd5
$15) 20. a3 Nc6 21. Nd5 Bxd4 22. Bxd4 Nxd5 23. exd5 Bxd5 $17) 19... Qd7 20.
Bxb6 (20. Rc7 Qxc7 $1 21. Nxc7 Rxd1+ $19) 20... axb6 21. Qb3 Nxd5 22. exd5 (22.
Rd1 $1 h6 23. exd5 Bxd5 24. Qxb6 {White's rook is better on d1 than c1. White
is threatening Ne5.} Ra8 25. a3 e6 26. Ne1 Qc6 27. Qxc6 bxc6 $15 {Black is
slightly better because of the weakness on b2.}) 22... Bxd5 23. Qxb6 Bc6 (23...
Bxa2 $5 24. b3 (24. Rc7 Qd1+ 25. Kh2 Bf6 26. Rxb7 Kg7 $17 {Black's two bishops
are superior.}) 24... Rc8 25. Rxc8+ Qxc8 26. Nd2 Qc1+ 27. Nf1 e6 28. Qxb7 Qb2
29. b4 Bd4 30. Ne3 Kg7 $17) 24. b3 $6 {This move does not improve White's
position.} ({Better was} 24. h4 e5 $6 (24... Ra8 25. Qb3 h6 26. Rd1 Qc7 27. Ne1
$15) 25. Ng5 $1 {This is the point of h4.} Qd2 26. Rc4 $11) 24... e5 25. Re1 $2
{This move lets me get more space.} (25. Qa5 Qe7 (25... e4 26. Ne5 {This is
the point of White's last move.} Bxe5 27. Qxe5 Qd2 28. Ra1 Rd6 $17 {Black has
the initiative, but converting is not an easy task.}) 26. Nd2 Bh6 27. Rc2 e4
$17) 25... e4 26. Nh2 Bc3 $1 {The White rook has no good squares.} 27. Re2 (27.
Rc1 Bd4 28. Qb4 e3 $1 29. Bxc6 exf2+ 30. Kg2 bxc6 31. Nf3 c5 32. Qc4 Qc6 33. a4
Re8 $19 {White cannot defend his exposed king.}) 27... Qd1+ 28. Bf1 f5 $6 {
This move weakens my king. It is not nessecary in this position.} (28... h5 29.
g4 (29. b4 Rd3 30. b5 (30. Re3 Rxe3 31. Qxe3 Bxb4 $19 {Black's material
advantage and initiative gives him a winning position.}) 30... Rxg3+ 31. fxg3
Bd4+ $19) 29... Be5 30. gxh5 gxh5 31. Qe3 Rd6 $19 {White has no good way to
stop Rg6+ from Black.}) 29. Re3 Bf6 30. b4 Re8 $6 {This allows a clever
resource from White.} (30... Qd6 $1 31. Bc4+ Kg7 32. Qc5 Qxc5 33. bxc5 Rd1+ 34.
Nf1 Rc1 35. Be2 Rc2 $19 {Black's two bishops will decide the game.}) 31. Qc5 $6
(31. Nf3 $1 exf3 $4 (31... Bd8 $1 32. Qd4 Qxd4 33. Nxd4 Bb6 34. Bc4+ Kg7 35.
Re2 $1 Bxd4 36. b5 Bd7 37. Rd2 Bxf2+ 38. Rxf2 Kf6 $19 {Black's passed pawn and
more active king will decide the game.}) 32. Rxe8+ Bxe8 33. Qxf6 $11) 31... Bd4
32. Qc4+ Kh8 33. b5 $5 {This leads to four Queens!} Bxe3 34. bxc6 Bxf2+ $1 35.
Kxf2 e3+ 36. Kg2 e2 37. Qc3+ Kg8 38. Qc4+ (38. cxb7 $5 e1=Q $4 (38... exf1=Q+
39. Nxf1 Qd5+ 40. Kg1 Qxb7 {Black is up a clean exchange.}) 39. Bc4+ Kf8 40.
Qf6#) 38... Kg7 39. cxb7 e1=Q 40. Qc7+ $1 {White prepares to get another queen.
} Kh8 41. b8=Q Qdd2+ 42. Kh1 Qe4+ 43. Kg1 Qde3# $1 {A unique final position!}
0-1

[Event "?"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2019.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Study 1"]
[Black "White to play and draw"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[Annotator "Yoo, Christopher"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "7b/8/3p2P1/5P2/4P3/k2b4/1R6/K7 w - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "16"]
[EventDate "2019.??.??"]

{White is almost stalemated, and can only strive for this drawing chance. [#]} 
1. g7 $1 Bxg7 2. f6 $1 Bxf6 3. e5 dxe5 $1 {The only try for Black.} (3... Bxe5
$11 {is an immediate draw.}) 4. Rb6 $1 (4. Rb3+ $2 {fails to} Ka4 $1 {and
White is lost.} (4... Kxb3 $11 {is another stalemate.}) 5. Rxd3 e4+ 6. Kb1 exd3
$19) 4... Bg7 5. Rb7 (5. Rg6 $2 Bf8 $19 {followed by Bc5-d4.}) 5... Bh8 6. Rb8
Bf6 7. Rb6 Bg5 {To avoid the repetition, Black's bishop has to leave the a1-h8
diagonal, which allows} 8. Rb3+ $1 Kxb3 $11 1/2-1/2

[Event "?"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2019.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Study 2"]
[Black "White to play and win"]
[Result "1-0"]
[Annotator "Yoo, Christopher"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "K7/3PP1P1/k7/3P4/3B4/8/8/7q w - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "7"]
[EventDate "2019.??.??"]

{[#]} 1. g8=B $3 {Other promotions lead to various stalemates and draws:} (1.
g8=Q Qxd5+ 2. Qxd5 $11) (1. d8=R Qxd5+ 2. Rxd5 $11) (1. Kb8 Qxd5 2. d8=N Qxd4
$11) 1... Qb1 {Forced, threatening Qb7#} (1... Qxd5+ 2. Bxd5 $18 {is notably
not stalemate!}) 2. d8=N $1 {Another underpromotion, needed to cover the
b7-square.} Qb4 3. e8=R $3 $18 (3. e8=Q $2 Qb7+ 4. Nxb7 $11 {is another
stalemate!}) (3. d6 Qxd4 4. Nc6 Qe4 5. Bd5 Qxd5 6. e8=Q Qxd6 $11) 3... Qb7+ (
3... Qxd4 4. Re6+ Kb5 5. d6 $18) 4. Nxb7 {No stalemate!} 1-0

[Event "47th Annual World Open"]
[Site "Philadelphia USA"]
[Date "2019.07.06"]
[Round "7.1"]
[White "Le Quang Liem"]
[Black "Nyzhnyk, I."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C42"]
[WhiteElo "2713"]
[BlackElo "2657"]
[Annotator "Le, Quang Liem"]
[PlyCount "109"]
[EventDate "2019.07.03"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "The Week in Chess 1287"]
[Source "Mark Crowther"]
[SourceDate "2019.07.08"]

{Illia Nyzhnyk is one of the most successful players in the history of World
Open, having won it 4 times from 2014-2018. Before this round, Illia played a
very good game to beat Lazaro Bruzon and was the sole tournament leader by
half a point. Therefore, this was a must-win game for me!} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6
{I was slightly surprised here, as Petroff Defence is not one of his main
openings.} 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. d4 d5 6. Bd3 Bd6 7. O-O O-O 8. c4 c6 9.
Nc3 Nxc3 10. bxc3 dxc4 11. Bxc4 Bf5 12. Re1 (12. Bg5 Qa5 (12... Qc7 $6 13. Re1
h6 $2 14. Nh4 $1 Bh7 15. Bxh6 {is known to be bad for Black since the game
Nepomniachtchi - Li Chao, 2017.}) 13. Nh4 {this line is not dangerous for
Black because of} Be6 $1 14. Bxe6 Qxg5 15. Nf3 Qd8 16. Bb3 Nd7 {and Black is
very solid.}) 12... Nd7 13. Bg5 Qa5 {Illia was blitzing out the moves up to
this point, which worried me a little bit. I could not recall exactly all my
analysis, but I thought my moves seemed natural.} (13... Qc7 14. Nh4 Bg6 15.
Nxg6 hxg6 16. h4 {gives White a nice advantage}) 14. Nh4 Nb6 (14... Be6 $2 {
now does not work because of} 15. Rxe6 fxe6 16. Bxe6+ Kh8 17. Qh5 $18) 15. Bb3
Be6 (15... Bd7 {deserves consideration} 16. Bd2 Rae8 $11) 16. Bd2 (16. Rxe6
Qxg5 17. Re4 (17. Nf3 Bxh2+) (17. Rxd6 $2 Qxh4 {the rook is trapped}) 17...
Rae8 18. Nf3 Qa5 $11) (16. Bxe6 Qxg5 17. Nf3 Qa5 18. Qb3 Rad8 19. Bg4 Rfe8 $11)
16... Bc4 $2 {My opponent spent almost an hour on this move, which was very
atypical of his style. Perhaps he was tired or feeling uncomfortable with the
position. After this move, his kingside was very vulnerable.} (16... Rae8 {
is the best move, but Illia was likely worried about some tactics with} 17. c4
(17. Bxe6 Rxe6 18. Rxe6 fxe6 19. c4 Qa4 $1 20. Qxa4 Nxa4 $11) 17... Bb4 $8 18.
Re5 Qa3 19. Nf5 Bxf5 20. Rxf5 Bxd2 21. Qxd2 Qd6 {Black can hold here.}) 17. Qg4
g6 (17... f5 18. Qh5 Qd5 19. Bc2 $16) 18. Nf3 $2 {Returning the favor. This
move is too slow and allows Black time to consolidate.} ({Instead,} 18. f4 {
would be very strong with direct threats against Black's king} f5 (18... Qh5
19. Qxh5 gxh5 20. Nf5 $16) 19. Qg3 Rf7 20. Nf3 Re7 21. Ne5 Qd5 22. Bc2 $40)
18... Qd5 19. Bh6 Rfe8 20. Nd2 Bxb3 21. axb3 f5 22. Qh4 Rxe1+ 23. Rxe1 Qf7 24.
c4 Re8 25. Rxe8+ Qxe8 {Black managed to simplify into an equal, but perhaps
slightly unpleasant endgame.} 26. Bf4 Be7 27. Qg3 Nd7 28. Qe3 Kf7 29. Nf3 Bf6
30. Be5 {Black's king is little bit exposed, so I had to keep the queens on
the board to create some pressure.} Qe7 31. h3 c5 32. Qh6 Nxe5 $2 {This was
Black's second mistake in this game. Luckily I did not miss my chances after
that.} (32... Bxe5 {was the only move to maintain the equality} 33. dxe5 (33.
Nxe5+ Kg8) 33... Kg8 34. Qe3 Nf8 {[%cal Rf8e6] with a beautiful knight on e6,
this position is most likely heading to a draw.}) (32... Kg8 33. Bxf6 Nxf6 34.
d5) 33. dxe5 Bxe5 34. Qxh7+ Bg7 35. h4 $1 {Just in time to open up the kingside
} Qf6 36. h5 gxh5 (36... g5 37. h6 Qxh6 38. Qxf5+ $18) 37. Qxh5+ {The material
is equal, but the combination of White's queen and knight is a deciding factor.
Moreover, Black's pawn on f5 is very weak. Black's bishop cannot help to
defend this very important pawn.} Qg6 38. Qh2 Qf6 39. Qb8 Qb6 40. Qf4 Qf6 (
40... Qxb3 41. Qxf5+ Kg8 42. Qd5+ Kh8 43. Qh5+ Kg8 44. Qe8+ Kh7 45. Ng5+ Kh6
46. Nf7+ Kh7 47. Qe4+ Kg8 48. Qd5 Qb1+ 49. Kh2 Kh7 50. Ng5+ Kh6 51. Qxc5 {
should be winning. White's attack is very dangerous}) 41. g3 b6 42. Nh4 Ke6 43.
Qc7 Qe5 44. Qc6+ Kf7 45. Qg6+ Kf8 46. Qxf5+ Qxf5 47. Nxf5 {The rest is simple.
Black does not have any real counterplay on the queenside.} Bf6 48. Kg2 a6 49.
Kf3 Kf7 50. Ke4 Ke6 51. f4 b5 52. Ne3 Bd4 53. Nd5 Kd6 54. g4 Kc6 55. Kd3 {
Overall, this was an exciting, although far from perfect, game. It was my
favorite because from a psychological point of view, it is much harder to win
when you are in a must-win situation, and your opponent is not. Fortunately
for me, Illia was the last one to make a mistake. With this critical win, I
joined the lead with 3 other players. I managed to play good chess until the
end to become the champion.} 1-0

[Event "Chess Olympiad"]
[Site "Lucerne SUI"]
[Date "1982.11.11"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Anthony Miles"]
[Black "Walter Shawn Browne"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D40"]
[Annotator "Pandolfini, Bruce"]
[PlyCount "47"]
[EventDate "1982.??.??"]

1. Nf3 c5 2. c4 Nf6 3. Nc3 e6 4. e3 Nc6 5. d4 d5 {[#]} 6. dxc5 Bxc5 7. a3 a6 8.
b4 Ba7 9. Bb2 O-O 10. Rc1 (10. Qc2) 10... d4 11. exd4 Nxd4 12. c5 Nxf3+ 13.
Qxf3 Bd7 14. Bd3 (14. Qxb7 Bxc5 15. bxc5 Rb8) 14... Bc6 15. Ne4 (15. Qh3) 15...
Nxe4 16. Bxe4 Qc7 17. O-O (17. Bxc6) 17... Rad8 18. Bxh7+ Kxh7 (18... Kh8 19.
Qh5) 19. Qh5+ Kg8 20. Bxg7 (20. Qg4 f5) 20... Kxg7 (20... f6 21. Qh8+ Kf7 22.
Bxf8 Rxf8 23. Qh7+) 21. Qg5+ Kh8 22. Qf6+ (22. Rc4 f5 23. Rh4+) 22... Kg8 (
22... Kh7) 23. Rc4 Rfe8 24. Rh4 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "PROBLEM I"]
[Black "Mating Net"]
[Result "0-1"]
[Annotator "Pandolfini, Bruce"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "2k5/8/r3q3/8/8/8/1Q3P2/3R3K b - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "3"]

{[#]} 1... Qh3+ 2. Kg1 Rg6# 0-1

[Event "?"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "PROBLEM II"]
[Black "Mating Net"]
[Result "0-1"]
[Annotator "Pandolfini, Bruce"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "4k3/8/3qr3/8/8/8/2P2Q2/K1R5 b - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "5"]

{[#]} 1... Qa3+ 2. Kb1 Qb4+ 3. Ka2 Ra6# 0-1

[Event "?"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "PROBLEM III"]
[Black "Mating Net"]
[Result "0-1"]
[Annotator "Pandolfini, Bruce"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "8/7k/8/8/7q/5Q2/6Pb/5R1K b - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "3"]

{[#]} 1... Bg3+ 2. Kg1 Qh2# 0-1

[Event "?"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "PROBLEM IV"]
[Black "Mating Net"]
[Result "0-1"]
[Annotator "Pandolfini, Bruce"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "8/4k3/8/8/8/2PQ4/qbK5/1R1R4 b - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "3"]

{[#]} 1... Ba3+ 2. Rb2 Qxb2# 0-1

[Event "?"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "PROBLEM V"]
[Black "Mating Net"]
[Result "0-1"]
[Annotator "Pandolfini, Bruce"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "b7/3q3k/8/8/8/8/5BPb/5RRK b - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "3"]

{[#]} 1... Qh3 2. Bd4 Bg3# 0-1

[Event "?"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "PROBLEM VI"]
[Black "Mating Net"]
[Result "0-1"]
[Annotator "Pandolfini, Bruce"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "3q3k/2b5/6p1/8/8/5b2/5P1B/4QRK1 b - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "5"]

{[#]} 1... Bxh2+ 2. Kxh2 Qh4+ 3. Kg1 Qh1# 0-1

[Event "52nd Biel Festival 2019"]
[Site "Biel"]
[Date "2019.07.25"]
[Round "4.4"]
[White "Georgiadis, Nico"]
[Black "Vidit, Santosh Gujrathi"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D85"]
[WhiteElo "2514"]
[BlackElo "2703"]
[Annotator "Naroditsky, Daniel"]
[PlyCount "132"]
[EventDate "2019.??.??"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 Bg7 7. Nf3 c5 8.
Bb5+ Nd7 9. O-O O-O 10. Re1 Nb6 11. a4 Bg4 12. a5 Nc8 13. e5 cxd4 14. cxd4 a6
15. Be2 Na7 16. d5 Nb5 17. Bb2 Rc8 18. Qb3 Bxf3 19. Bxf3 Rc5 20. Qb4 Qc7 21.
Rac1 Rc8 22. g3 b6 23. Ba3 Qb7 24. axb6 Rxc1 25. Rxc1 Nxa3 26. Rxc8+ Qxc8 {[#]}
27. Qxa3 (27. b7 Qc1+ 28. Kg2 Bxe5) (27. Qxe7 Nc4 (27... Qc1+ 28. Kg2 Nc2) 28.
b7 Qb8 29. d6 Nxe5 30. Qc7) (27. d6 exd6 (27... Bxe5 28. dxe7 Nb5 (28... Kg7 {
[#]} 29. Qd2 (29. b7 Qe8 (29... Qb8 30. Bc6) 30. b8=Q Bxb8 31. Qd4+ f6 32. Qd8
Kf7 33. Bd5+)) 29. Qe4) 28. b7) 27... Bxe5 28. Qxe7 Qb8 29. Qa7 a5 {[#]} 30.
Qa6 (30. Qxa5 Bd4) 30... Kg7 31. b7 a4 32. d6 Qxd6 33. Qxa4 Qb6 34. Kg2 Bb8 35.
Bd5 (35. Qe8 Qd6 36. h4 h5) 35... Qd6 36. Qc4 Qc7 37. Qe4 Qe5 38. Qd3 h5 39. h4
Qd6 40. Qb3 Qf6 41. Qa4 Qd6 42. Bb3 Qb6 43. Bd5 Qd6 44. Qd4+ Qe5 {[#]} 45.
Qxe5+ (45. Qc4) 45... Bxe5 46. Kf3 Bb8 47. Ke3 Kf6 48. Kd4 Ke7 49. Kc5 Ke8 50.
Kb6 Ke7 51. Ba2 Ke8 52. Bc4 Ke7 53. Bb3 Ke8 54. f3 Ke7 (54... Bxg3 55. Ka7) 55.
g4 hxg4 56. fxg4 Ke8 57. Kc6 Ke7 58. g5 Ke8 59. Kc5 Ke7 60. Kd4 Kf8 61. Ke3 Bc7
62. Kf3 Kg7 63. Kg4 Bb8 64. h5 gxh5+ 65. Kxh5 f6 66. g6 f5 1/2-1/2

[Event "URS U18-ch"]
[Site "Vilnius"]
[Date "1975.??.??"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Rizvonov, Zurkhon"]
[Black "Kasparov, Garry"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E19"]
[Annotator "Naroditsky, Daniel"]
[PlyCount "74"]
[EventDate "1975.??.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "URS"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2002"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. c4 Nf6 2. Nc3 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Bb7 5. Bg2 Be7 6. O-O O-O 7. d4 Ne4 8. Qc2
Nxc3 9. bxc3 f5 10. Rd1 d6 11. Qb3 Bf6 12. a4 Be4 13. c5 Qe7 14. cxd6 cxd6 15.
a5 bxa5 16. Rxa5 Nc6 17. Rb5 Rab8 18. Ba3 Bc2 19. Qxc2 Rxb5 20. Ne5 Nxe5 21.
dxe5 Bxe5 22. f4 Bf6 23. Bxd6 Qd8 24. Bxf8 Qxf8 25. Qa2 Qc5+ 26. Kh1 Qe3 27. c4
Rb2 28. Qa4 h6 29. Bf3 Kh7 30. Bh5 Rb1 31. Rxb1 Qe4+ 32. Bf3 Qxb1+ 33. Kg2 Bd4
34. Qd7 Qg1+ 35. Kh3 Qf1+ 36. Bg2 {[#]} Qxe2 37. Bb7 Bg1 0-1

[Event "USA-ch"]
[Site "Saint Louis"]
[Date "2017.04.02"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Akobian, Varuzhan"]
[Black "Shankland, Samuel L"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D43"]
[WhiteElo "2645"]
[BlackElo "2666"]
[Annotator "Naroditsky, Daniel"]
[PlyCount "115"]
[EventDate "2017.03.29"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 178"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.05.14"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 c6 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bxf6 Qxf6 7. Qb3 dxc4 8.
Qxc4 Nd7 9. Rd1 Rb8 10. g3 Qd8 11. Bg2 Be7 12. O-O b5 13. Qd3 O-O 14. Ne4 Qa5
15. Nc5 Nxc5 16. dxc5 Bf6 17. Qd6 Ba6 18. Ne5 Bxe5 19. Qxe5 b4 20. Bxc6 Rbc8
21. Rd6 Bxe2 22. Rc1 Bb5 23. Bb7 Rc7 24. c6 Qb6 25. Qc5 Qxc5 26. Rxc5 a6 27.
Rd4 Rb8 28. Rxb5 axb5 29. Rxb4 Rbxb7 30. cxb7 Rxb7 31. a4 Ra7 32. axb5 Kf8 33.
b6 Rb7 34. Kg2 Ke7 35. Kf3 Kd6 36. Ke4 Kc5 37. Rb3 f6 38. Kd3 e5 39. g4 g6 40.
h4 f5 41. h5 gxh5 42. gxf5 h4 43. Ke4 Kd6 44. f6 h3 45. Kf5 e4 46. Rxh3 Rxb6
47. b3 Rb5+ 48. Kxe4 h5 49. Rf3 Ke6 50. Kd4 Kf7 51. Kc4 Rb8 52. b4 h4 53. b5
Rh8 54. Rh3 Kxf6 55. b6 {[#]} Ke7 (55... Kg5 56. f3 (56. Kb5 Kg4 57. Rh1 Rf8)
56... Rc8+ 57. Kb5 Rc1 58. Rh2 Rb1+ 59. Kc6 Rc1+ 60. Kb7 Rb1) 56. Kb5 Kd7 57.
Ka6 Kc6 58. b7 1-0

[Event "Milestones Sunday"]
[Site "Boylston Chess Club"]
[Date "2019.06.02"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Calvin Hori"]
[Black "John C Urschel"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C47"]
[WhiteElo "1850"]
[BlackElo "1723"]
[Annotator "Urschel, John"]
[PlyCount "64"]
[EventDate "2019.??.??"]

{I learned to move the pieces when I was a kid, played a few games for fun if
a set was around, and nothing more. This changed in college when a friend took
up the royal game; we played at lunch every week. Chess was a full blown hobby
by the time I met and became friends with GM Robert Hess. These days I mostly
study endgames, have a weekly lesson with IM Anna Rudolf on Chess.com, and
analyze old games of my favorite player, Ulf Andersson. I very rarely play,
but this past June I competed for the first time in a year. I hope the
following game is one Ulf would approve of.} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4.
d4 exd4 5. Nxd4 Bb4 6. Nxc6 bxc6 7. Bd3 O-O 8. O-O d5 9. exd5 cxd5 10. h3 h6
11. Qf3 c6 12. Bf4 Be6 13. a3 {My opponent's "first" move. I have never
enjoyed openings as much as other aspects of the game, and was on my own after
d4. I am always happy to survive my opponent's theory.} Bd6 14. Bxd6 Qxd6 15.
Qg3 {I expected b4. I thought this move was inaccurate, but the engine does
not mind.} Qxg3 16. fxg3 a5 {To fight against the b-pawn.} 17. Na4 {A step in
the wrong direction. The knight on a4 has limited prospects.} (17. b4 {seemed
more appropriate. For instance,} axb4 18. axb4 Nd7 19. b5 cxb5 20. Nxb5) 17...
Nd7 {Improving my knight and immobilizing his.} 18. b4 Rfb8 19. c3 $6 (19. Nc5
Nxc5 20. bxc5 {was a better continuation.}) 19... axb4 {I wanted to fix a
weakness on c3, play against a bad knight and activate my rooks.} 20. axb4 Ra7
21. Nc5 {I expected Nb2, but I cannot fault my opponent for not wanting to
defend such a passive position. The text move results in weak doubled pawns.} (
21. Nb2 Rba8 22. Rxa7 Rxa7 {With Ra3 coming, this is an unenviable position.})
21... Nxc5 22. bxc5 (22. Rxa7 Nxd3 23. Rd1 Ne5 {is a much worse continuation.})
22... Rba8 23. Rxa7 Rxa7 24. Rb1 Kf8 {Avoiding mate in two.} 25. Kf2 $6 (25.
Rb6 Ra3 {puts up much more resistance.}) 25... Ra3 $1 {My best move. I force
the white rook to a more passive square before collecting the c5 pawn. Small
nuances such as these can often be the difference between converting an
advantage and settling for half a point.} 26. Rc1 Ra5 27. Ke3 Rxc5 28. Kd4 Ra5
29. Ke5 Ke7 {Here I had my longest think of the game. While Ra2 looked winning,
Ke7 felt like was a more prudent approach.} (29... Ra2 30. Kd6 Rxg2 31. g4 Rg3
32. Bf1 Rg1 {was my calculation, but I preferred restricting my opponent's
activity with the text move.}) 30. Rc2 $4 {He was oblivious to the danger his
king was in.} (30. Kf4 Ra2 31. Kf3 c5 {still requires technique.}) 30... Ra4 {
Threatening mate.} 31. c4 {Forced.} dxc4 32. Be4 {loses a piece at least, but
there is nothing better.} c3 {and white resigned.} 0-1

